😐A single person spends $4,050 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $1,287 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,773 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $2,184 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,497 per month in Pasadena, CA vs $3,082 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.
😐Pasadena, CA costs about 215% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Pasadena, CA sits 202% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.79$17.79
$11.94MX$208
48.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.2$81.2
$42.75MX$744
89.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69$11.69
$10.59MX$184
10.39%
Cappuccino
$5.17$5.17
$3.62MX$63.0
42.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11$3.11
$1.47MX$25.54
111.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89$2.89
$0.94MX$16.41
207.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.80$9.80
$3.09MX$53.8
217.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.96$10.96
$4.46MX$77.6
145.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20$1.20
$1.43MX$24.80
-16.08%
White Bread(500g)
$4.92$4.92
$1.88MX$32.79
161.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.63MX$28.34
72.39%
Eggs
$5.34$5.34
$2.64MX$45.99
102.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.23$16.23
$8.21MX$143
97.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.28$18.28
$8.29MX$144
120.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.32$13.32
$11.10MX$193
20.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55$3.55
$2.65MX$46.14
33.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63$1.63
$1.50MX$26.11
8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50$2.50
$1.99MX$34.59
25.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.75$5.75
$2.08MX$36.13
176.44%
Potato(1kg)
$5.63$5.63
$1.79MX$31.11
214.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28$2.28
$2.18MX$37.87
4.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87$1.87
$1.08MX$18.73
73.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66$1.66
$1.04MX$18.04
59.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.39$9.39
$3.97MX$69.1
136.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.88$9.88
$10.20MX$178
-3.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$1.73MX$30.04
18.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67$1.67
$2.50MX$43.46
-33.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.56$1.56
$0.52MX$9.02
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.6$52.6
$26.97MX$469
94.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55$3.55
$3.14MX$54.7
13.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60$1.60
$2.40MX$41.80
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.15$29.15
$3.09MX$53.7
843.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30$1.30
$1.27MX$22.16
2.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K$29.3K
$30.9KMX$537.3K
-5.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K$22.2K
$23.3KMX$405.7K
-4.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$265$265
$82.0MX$1,427
222.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.1$51.1
$22.45MX$391
127.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6$72.6
$29.66MX$516
144.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.50$34.50
$51.9MX$903
-33.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.02$35.02
$18.67MX$325
87.57%
Cinema Ticket
$19.11$19.11
$4.97MX$86.5
284.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,299$1,299
$198MX$3,442
556.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K$15.1K
$5,273MX$91.7K
186.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8$88.8
$36.34MX$632
144.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.28$40.28
$40.05MX$697
0.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6$93.6
$79.9MX$1,390
17.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112$112
$88.9MX$1,547
26.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,388$3,388
$963MX$16.8K
251.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,693$2,693
$465MX$8,086
479.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,475$5,475
$1,596MX$27.8K
243.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,330$4,330
$1,209MX$21.0K
258.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,483$9,483
$3,942MX$68.6K
140.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,659$8,659
$6,448MX$112.2K
34.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pasadena, CA
Playa del Carmen
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,256$5,256
$720MX$12.5K
629.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.27
11.42
-45.10%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Pasadena, CA: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Playa del Carmen: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,388 in Pasadena, CA versus $963 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 630% higher in Pasadena, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Pasadena, CA versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $422 vs $251 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Pasadena, CA vs Playa del Carmen: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Pasadena, CA and Playa del Carmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,050 in Pasadena, CA, $1,287 in Playa del Carmen – roughly 215% apart. Pasadena, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Pasadena, CA compared to Playa del Carmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,075 per month in Pasadena, CA and $1,930 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Pasadena, CA and Playa del Carmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Pasadena, CA or Playa del Carmen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,050 in Pasadena, CA and $1,287 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Pasadena, CA and Playa del Carmen?
Public transport costs about 95% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Pasadena, CA at $4,050. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pasadena, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Pasadena, CA and Playa del Carmen?
It depends on your priorities. Playa del Carmen has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,287 in Playa del Carmen to $4,050 in Pasadena, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Pasadena, CA and Playa del Carmen?
If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pasadena, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Pasadena, CA vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado